Envelop moistener and sealer.



c. H. DRAPER, ENVELOP MOISTBNER AND SEALER.

APPLICATION FILED 8E PT. 26, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ape

0. H. DRAPER. ENVELOP MOISTENER AND SEALER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26, I913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 17256721237? azarem ZQJZIzGSGeG, n XSMQ M11 citizen of the United States,

specification, like letters on UNITED sTATns rnrnnronricn f CLARE n. nnar'nn, FHOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR AND CHARLES IE. ROPER, COPAETNERSTRADING as 0. 3.301 311 & COMPANY, OF

I-IOIEDALE, nassacnosnrrs,

ENVELOP MOISTENER AND SEALER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

App1ication filed. September 26, 1913. Serial No. 792,051.

To all 1072 cm 111; mag concern p a lie it known that l, CLARE H. Dnnrnn, a and resident of: llopedale, county of oreester, lilassachusetts, meat in Envelop hiOlStGhGiS and Sealers, of which the following description, in"c0nnection with the accompanying drawings, is a the drawings representing like parts.

, Tim-invention to behereinatter described relates to envelop moisteners and. sealers of the general character of that set forth by the I patent to .lonas Northrop,

January 38, 1913, and the aims and purposes I oitliepresent invention are to improve such character of moistener and sealerin several particulars whereby a more efficient and reliable device is provided, all as will behereinatter more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings showing one practical form or embodiment of: themrein'iion, it being understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to thei partieulars otmeans shown, but is definitely Tset il'orthin its true scope by the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan View of an envelop moistcner and sealer embodyin one form of the present invention; Fig.

3. is a side elevation thereof, the parts being shown in normal position; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 2%3, Fig. 1, the parts being shown ness; Fig. i is a similar section on line 4%, 1; and Fig. is a view showing the general form of the part for directing the flap oi? the envelop downward andthe body otthe envelop upward as the latter is moved 0\ er the device. g I

The supporting frame for the sealer and moistoner maybe of any appropriate char actor, and. as shown it comprises a base 1 la-om which rise the end walls 2 and side v al Figs; "and 4:. This base, and side and end. wallsmay conveniently comprise a. box-like structure, substantially as indicated by the drawings, although it is to be under stood thatany suitable support appropriate "for the purposes will the within the true.

scope otthe invention. In the illustrated "form of the invention, the side and end walls Extending upward from within the box andState of I have invented an lmprovemay be appropriately thoughthis is not important, and has a wall l ig. 1, extends enlarged for the purpose of clearhaying secured thereto the arms neareach end of 'the'moistener plate. These arms 27 are preferably containedinrecesses formed in the, substance, of the moistener the bas 1 and preferably one at either end of theframe and between said posts and one of the walls 2 is placed amoistener' tank 6. This tank formed of metal, al-

so cLAnE n. DRA'PEB.

- Patented Sept. 1', 11914.

inclosure are the posts 7 provided with a flanged part 8 on which rests a wick or other moisture-absorbing substance 9, the end of which extends down into the liquid 10 111 the tank. The top wall 11 of the tank may be provided with. a suit. able cap 12 which maybe removed when it is-desired to replenish the tank. The top wall 11 of the tank preferably extends at 13 over the 'liange 8 of the wall 7 and projects beyond the same, as indicated by Fig. 3. The wick or other moisture-absorbing fabric 9 may be clamped between the walls 8 and 13 bymeans oi? a suitable clamp 1 1, the

construction being such that when the wick or moistening fabric is in place, the end 15 thereot will extendbeyond the walls 8 and 13 a suitable distance to provide a moisture applying means for anenvelop, as willhere- ,inafter more fully appear.

l lingel at 16'to supp0rting arms 17 ris mg from the corner posts 1 1s th'esealer plate 18. This sealer plate,as indicated by from side'toside of. the supporting lirame,andis normally held with its :tree edge 1' ;raise(l1 )osition, SllllSlltllltlZLllYRl-S 111 l 1g. 3, by a spring, 19,

lines in Fig, is preferably of the torsional type, andis contained within thclrccess 20 in the rear the sealer plate, substantially as indicated in Fig. 4;. The Spring,19. preferably surrounds arod 21 in said recess and one end of thespring, as indicated in Fig. 4., engages the wall of the recess as at 22 and its other-end 23 contacts with, the inner surface of the wall 2, the construction being such that lthe spring 19 normally holds the sealer plate in inclined position, as indicat'edby edge of:

Figs. 2 and'3, If desired, the sealer plate 18 maybe provided with a pad orroughened surfaCeQ Lgfl i Resting- 'wi one ateaclrcorner at the front of the sup- Po t g 27, one

th-one edge upon the lugs 25,

fran1e,is the moistener plate 26,

v V shown by dotted? 1 Land mliig. 4. This spring fso liaise-al a, a will be plate 26, substantially as indicated by Figs. worlg, as indicated in 2 and l, and are secured therein by suitable means, such as the pins 28, the construction being such that the arms 27 are substantially rigid with the moistener plate 26. The arms 27 extend from the moistener plate toward the sealer plate 18, and are received in re: cesses 29 formed in the under surface of the sealer plate 18, where such arms 27 have their extensions 30 pivotally connected to the sealer plate by the pins 31, Fig. 4, the construction being such that whilethe arms 2. are secured rigidly to the inoistener plate and the extensions .30 thereof are secured pivotally to the sealer plate, the action of the swings 19 upon the sealer plate will cause the sealer and moistener plates to assume normal position, as indicated by wherein the adjacent edge portions of the moistener and sealer plates are in different planes.

In order that the position of the adjacent edges of the sealer and moistener plates may be properly assumed, as indicated in Fig. 3, the extensions 30 of the arms 52'? secured to the moistener plate are each provided withan arm havingan end portion adapted tocontact with a pad 84 secured to the under surface or the sealer plate 18, whereby when the spring 19 raises the sealer plate by turning the same about its pivotal support 16, the stop will con tact with the pad 3% and properly limit the upward movement of the free end of lthe sealer springs, and perforce also the upward position of the adjacent edge of the moistener plate From the construction hereinbefore de- 7 apparent that the springs 19 acting upon the sealer plate 18 will normally hold the sealer plate and moistener plate yieldingly in the position indicated by Fig, 3, wherein the free edge of the sealer Iplate will be in somewhat higher position than the adjacent edge of the moistener plate. The parts being in this position, it is the purpose of the present invention that when an envelop a is placed' upon the moistener plate with its flap 7) opened out, as indicated by Fig. 3, and then moved in the direction of the arrow, F ig'. 3, the flap 7) of the envelop will be securely and unerringly engaged by the opposed edge of the sealer plate and deflected downward to thereby cause the said flap to wipe over the end 15 i of the moistener 9 as the body part of the the arrow,

envelop passes over the space. between the edges of the moistener and sealer plates, all substantially as indicated by Fig. 4. As the hand moves the envelop the direction of it presses downward also, thereby facilitating the action of the sealer plate edge inthus deflecting the flap into contact with the moistening device within the frameplate under the action of said I I, I

Fig. 4, and bringing the top surfaces of the sealer and moistener plates in substantially the same plane so that the envelop may pass with case from the moistener plate onto the top of the sealer plate. 18, and the flap be drawn over the moistening device and properly sealed, as will be readily understood.

In the const uiction disclosed by the patent hereinbef'ore noted, the edge of the sealer plate was curved or turned over uniformly throughout the length of' said plate. The present invention modifies this construction materially and by such modification secures the unerring action hereinbefore referred to.

Hereinbefore the parts 18 and 26 have been termed sealer and moistener plates, re spectively, for the purpose of identification, but it isto be understood that these terms are not terms of limitation. Correspondingly, for the purpose of identification, the part of the sealer plate which acts upon the flap and body of the envelop in effecting the moistening and sealing thereof, may be conveniently termed the flap and envelop director.

In the form of the invention shown, the flap and envelop director 35 comprises a plate preferably secured to the free end portion of the sealer plate 18 by lugs 36, though it is obvious that the flap and envelop director might be otherwise connected to the sealer plate 18, if desired. The flap and envelop director, whether made integral with or separate from the sealer plate 18 and secured thereto, extends toward the edge of and 3, and has its side portions curved downwardly so that the edges of said side portions project below the adjacent edge of the moistener plate when the parts are in normal position, as indicated by Figs. 1 and 3. Between these side portions, however, the flap and envelop director has a re'ntrant part or is cut away as at 37, Figs. 1 and 5, so that the edge of the reentrant or cut-away portion is normally above the plane of the moistener plate and the edge thereof, and from the said central reentrant or cut-away portion the edge of the flap and envelop director curves gradually downward and outward toward the sides thereof below the adjacentedge of the moistener plate. The purpose of thus providing a cut-away central or reentrant portion of the flap and envelop director and having the plates normally sustained with suchportion above the plane of the mois tener plate, is to provide means, such as the edge of such portion, that will be in position above the end of the envelop flap as theenvelop is moved over the moistener plate and to insure that the flap shall be engaged and pass thereunder as the envelop is moved forward. It is equally important, however, that the body of the envelop shall not follow I of the moistener plate;

the flap-thereof to a position below the flap and envelop I director, therefore the reentrant or cut-away portion 37 is curved downwardly and outwardly so that the side edge portions of theflap and envelop di rector as at 38, separated a distance less than the length of an envelop, shall be normally positioned below tion, as indicated Fig. 1, itvwill be"apparent that when the envelop is placed upon the moistenerplate as indicated by Fig. 3,

an d movel forward, the flap '5 thereof will.

engage below the reentrant or cut-away portion of the flap and envelop director, and be directed downwardly thereby, and as. the

*envelop is moved still'farther in the direction of the arrow, Fig.8, and as indicated by Fig. 4, the body portion of the envelop at the sides thereof will engage the side portions of the iiap andfenvelop director which by its oirtwardly-curved contour will direct the envelop as a whole upwardly over the top of the flap and envelop director, thus drawing the flap of the envelop over the sealer 1.5. Owing to'the construction ofthe "flap and envelop director'which, provides Fig. 4:;

the central reentrant or cut-away portion and 'downwardly-inclined side portlons, this action of the fiap'and envelop director will take place whenever an envelop is moved over the moistener plate with its flap turned as indicated by Fig. 3, regardless of whether the pressure of the hand upon the m-oistener. plate has been suflicient to bring the plates intoposition substantially as indicated'by In other words, the flap of the envelop will engage the reentrant or cut-away portion of the director and be directed downwardly thereby, and the side portions of the envelop will be engaged by the side. portions of the director and be directed upwardly thereby, regardless of whether the pressure on the moistener plate has been of fectivein bringingthemoistener and sealer plate into a common plane, as indicated by Fig. L, or not.

The under portion of the envelop flap and envelop director is preferably provided with an inclined surface 39, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, which facilitates the direction of the flap Z) of the envelop downwardly and tener and sealer plates.

into cooperative relation with the moistener 15 as the envelop is moved over the mois- If desired, the sealer plate 18 may be provided with a pad 40 to engage with the extensions 30 of the arm 27 when the hand depresses the plates into a common plane, as indicated by Fig. 4. Likewise, the moistener plate 26 may be provided with pads 41 for resting upon the stops or projections 25 when the parts are in normal position.

From the construction above-described as the preferred form of the present invention,

the adjacent edge or plane From thisconstruc} -'in details may of the actual invention which is definedbyplying device will bc noted that the flap and envelop-1 director unerringly secures the downward movement of the envelop flap into coopera-' tive relation with the moistener, and that the side portions of the flap and envelop director equally insure upward movement of the body'of the envelop, the wiping of the envelop flap over'themoisitener and its subsequent sealing'as the envelop is forced forward Ztener to the sealer plates.

and consequently from the moislVhile the construction described is fo to be an eilfective embodimentofythe present invention, it is to be understood that changes bemade wlthin the true scope 2. in an envelop moistener and sealeigithc said -I upwardly as the envelop 18" combination of a frame, a moisture"supplymg device associated therewith, moistenerand sealer plates connected tosaid frame, e ,leo

said sealer platehaving a flap and'envclop directing edge provided with a central entrant or cuto-ut portion and downwardly extending'side portions,and-means for sustaining said moistener and sealer plates with the edge of the reentrant- '01- cuteout portion of the latter above the edge of the nioistener plate to direct the flap of an ,en-

velcp downward and'the side portions ofthe sealer plate below the edge of the moistener plate to directthe body of an envelop upward as it is moved overthe said plates.

3. In an enevelop moistener and sealer, the combination of a frame, a moisture supplying device associated therewith, a depressible moistener plate, a sealer plate pro: vided with a flap and envelop director hav-l ing a recessed centralportion and downwardly extending side portions, yielding means for sustaining one of said. plates, and,

connections between said plates for, causing the ClGPl'GSSlOD of one by thedepression oi the other.

a. In an envelop moistener and sealer, the

combination of a frame, a moisture supplying device, depressible moistener and sealer plates havin sealer plate rector provided with an edge portion curved downwardly from the center toward each side of said director, and, yielding their edges separated, said having a flap and envelop dimeans (for supporting said plates with the central edge portion of the director abovethe adjacent edge of the inoistener plate and the'side edge portions of said director below the edge of the moistener plate.

In an envelop moistener and sealer, the combination of a frame, a moisture supplying device, depr plates having their sealer plate having a flap and envelop director provided with an edge portion curved downwardly from the center toward each side (of said director, and yielding means forsupporting said plates with the central edge portion of the director. {lbOYQ the adjacent edge of the moistener plate and the side edge portions of said director below the edge of the moistener plate, and a stop for limiting the action of said yielding means.

In an envelop moistenerand sealer, the (Olilblilltiflll off a frame, a moisture supplying device associated therewith, a moistener plate and a 'ealer plate, the latter being provided with a-tlap and envelop director having a recessed. or cut-away central portion and downwardly-extending side portions, and means for sustaining said plates with the recessed portion of the director above the edge of the inoistener-plate to engage the flap of an envelop and turn it downwardly and the side portions below the edge of the n'ioistener plate to engage illebody oil an I wardly as the envelop is moved plates.

7. in an envelop moistener and sealer, the combination of a frame, a moisture supply over said ing dev cc ssociated therewith, a lnoistener plate and a sealer plate, the latter being provided with a flap and envelop director having a recessed or cut-away central portion provided with a flap-engaging inclined Copies of this patent may heobtained for ible moistener and sealeredges separated, said envelop and direct it up m ans surface and downwardlv-erttendino' side i 7 U c) plate to engage the flap, of an envelop and turn it downwardly and the side pc 'tions below theedge of the moistener plate to engage the body of anenvelop and direct it iq vi'ardly as the envelop is moved over said plates. 7

j In an. envelop noistenerand sealer, the combination of a frame, a moisture supplying device associated. therewithya depressihle moistenerplate, a sealer plateeneans for forcing one edge of the sealer plate upward, c nnections between the sealer plate ner plate and a stop carried ll o nections to limit the action of said and cause tlldSRlCl plate," toihe nor mall; positioned w" h the central portion ot the sealer plate eoge as below the edgeof the nc isten e 1, In an envelop moistener and sealer, the combination of supper 31g frame, :1 mois tenerplate 2G, and a sealer-plate 18, said sealelmplate heingpi 'ov' A and envelopdirector 35 provided with a central cut-awayor recessed portion 23? and downwardly-cniwcd side portions 33., and a spring liar sustaini g said n'ic-istcrun' and sealer plates with the cut-away or recessed portion 37 Offllijcilltl' director 3:; above and the side portions helowllie edge of the moistener plate.

In testimony whereof, I have signed in name tothis s 'iecification, 'ii the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARE'H. DRAPEH.

Witnesses:

SHnLLii 1' D. V1 w CENT, ermini lliLLIaiis.

five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

Commissioner of Patents,

above and the side led with a tiai j 

